Istanbul city guide + Weekend breaks | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide+weekends
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10 of the best clubs in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-clubs-bars-istanbul
Istanbul boasts a night out for all tastes, from Gypsy haunts to the city's most outrageous gay club, <strong>Izzy Finkel</strong> &amp; <strong>Tom Roueché</strong> picks 10 of the best<p>Probably the city's glitziest club, this is where Istanbul's investment bankers dance the night away on the banks of the Bosphorus – the super-flash avoid the traffic of the coastal road and arrive at the club by boat. Its two floors are large enough to include Istanbul's priciest – and, some say, best – restaurant, which comes with a nifty trick: diners don't have to pay the 50TL (£18) entrance fee to the club (although once the bill comes, that may not seem like such a saving). <br>• <em>Muallim Naci Avenue 44, Ortaköy, +90 212 259 5919, </em><a href="http://reina.com.tr/" title=""><em>reina.com.tr </em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-clubs-bars-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Bars and clubsClubbingTravelCity breaksWeekend breaksGay and lesbian travelIstanbul holidaysTurkey holidaysTop 10sWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:41:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-clubs-bars-istanbulPhotograph: Public DomainReina nightclub – arrive by boat to avoid Istanbul's notorious traffic jams. Photograph: Uruk SarasenPhotograph: Public DomainReina nightclub – arrive by boat to avoid Istanbul's notorious traffic jams. Photograph: Uruk SarasenIzzy Finkel &amp; Thomas Roueché2011-09-14T09:41:00Z10 of the best modern art galleries in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-modern-galleries-istanbul-city-guide
Istanbul's art venues range from glamorous party spots to converted Ottoman power stations, and show everything from masters to multidisciplinary art. <strong>Michael Hornsby</strong> picks the best <br /><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title=""><strong>• As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>Tucked away in the backstreets of Beyoğlu, Garaj is a not-for-profit contemporary performance art space that feels stripped back to the very basics – all exposed concrete and cold lighting. It has a ballsy manifesto, and recently held a performing arts festival about dictators and corruption, called "political games". But these revolutionaries like to have a good time as well. In a neighbourhood mostly occupied by bars and clubs, Garaj lets its hair down with events such as B-Boy competitions and concerts from visiting indie bands. <br><em>• Kaymakam Reşat Bey Sokak 11, +90 212 244 4499, </em><a href="http://www.garajistanbul.org" title=""><em>garajistanbul.org</em></a><em>, prices vary according to the show </em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-modern-galleries-istanbul-city-guide">Continue reading...</a>Istanbul holidaysTurkey holidaysCultural tripsArtArt and designEurope holidaysTravelShort breaksWeekend breaksTop 10sPhotographyCity breaksWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-modern-galleries-istanbul-city-guidePhotograph: Public DomainGaraj, a backstreet performance space in the Istanbul district of Beyoğlu. Photograph: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/senova/2895042801/">basak senova on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">Some rights reserved</a>Photograph: Public DomainGaraj, a backstreet performance space in the Istanbul district of Beyoğlu. Photograph: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/senova/2895042801/">basak senova on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">Some rights reserved</a>Michael Hornsby2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best music venues in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-music-venues-istanbul
Indie, electro, Turkish rock or dubstep? <strong>Izzy Finkel </strong>and<strong> Tom Roueché</strong> pick the best venues in Istanbul's thriving music scene<br /><br /><strong>• </strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title=""><strong>As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>It's impossible not to love this venue-cum-club space hidden high above the rooftops of Beyoğlu. Arguably the only venue in the city that hosts regular dubstep nights, it is frequented by Istanbul's clubbing cognoscenti. The punters come for the mostly local bands and DJs who play on the first two floors, but it is the fantastic top-floor bar they stay for. Up here, the music continues until the dancing stops, and watching the sun rise over the gardens of Galatasaray Lisesi far below (while the DJ plays surf rock) is a sublime surprise. Such a night can only end in <a href="http://www.sampiyonkokorec.com.tr/" title="">Şampiyon Kokoreç</a> – the 24-hour restaurant across the road that specialises in barbecued intestine and deep-fried mussels.<br>• <em>Kartal Sokak 3, Kat 3, Galatasaray, +90 212 244 9147,</em> <a href="http://dogzstar.com/" title=""><em>dogzstar.com</em></a><em> </em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-music-venues-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Istanbul holidaysBars and clubsTravelMusicWeekend breaksCity breaksClubbingWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-music-venues-istanbulPhotograph: PRHidden high above the rooftops ... Dogstarz in IstanbulPhotograph: PRHidden high above the rooftops ... Dogstarz in IstanbulIzzy Finkel &amp; Thomas Roueché2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best antiques shops in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-antique-shops-istanbul
From hidden gems in the Grand Bazaar to smoky bookshops in the back streets of Beyoğlu, <strong>Tom Roueché</strong> hunts down Istanbul's fast-disappearing antique treasures<br /><br />• <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title="Istanbul city guide"><strong>As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>Just outside the Grand Bazaar's Nurosmaniye gate, Sofa is almost more museum than shop. Arguably most visitors to Istanbul aren't in the market for priceless 19th century Greek and Russian orthodox icons, Ottoman miniatures and book illuminations, but for those who are, it's a must. The icons are often unusual examples of late Ottoman-era production and the miniatures and illuminations portray anything from mythological scenes to Ottoman sultans. Owner Kashif Bey has also lovingly built up a fantastic collection of Turkish, Ottoman and Islamic art, from delicately carved signet rings to maps of the region, engravings and ottoman landscape and portrait paintings, as well as huge art books. Admittedly none of this comes cheap, but Sofa has built its reputation catering for collectors seeking one-off historical objects, impossible to source elsewhere.<br>• <em>Nuruosmaniye Caddesi 53A, Cağaloğlu, +90 212 520 2850, </em><a href="http://www.kashifsofa.com/" title="Kashif Sofa"><em>kashifsofa.com</em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-antique-shops-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Istanbul holidaysTravelTurkey holidaysShopping tripsCity breaksShort breaksWeekend breaksTop 10sWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-antique-shops-istanbulPhotograph: PRA fantastic collection of Turkish, Ottoman and Islamic art ... Sofa in IstanbulPhotograph: PRA fantastic collection of Turkish, Ottoman and Islamic art ... Sofa in IstanbulThomas Roueché2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best fashion boutiques in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fashion-shops-boutiques-istanbul
The Istanbul fashion scene is a reflection of the city's vibrant youthfulness. Elle Turkey editor <strong>Seda Yilmaz</strong> selects the best shops, from cutting-edge designer to vintage haute couture<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title=""><strong>• As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>With its navy blue awning, Atelier 55 is an unmissable spot on shop-dotted Serdar-i Ekrem street. This concept store offers everything from clothing and jewellery to furniture and art pieces. The great mix of local and international brands is hand-picked by fashion-savvy partners Gizem Bingöl and Başak Abaci – this is the only store in town where you can find <a href="http://www.hollyfulton.com/" title="">Holly Fulton</a>'s exquisitely printed trousers, <a href="http://www.boraaksu.com/" title="">Bora Aksu</a>'s romantic blouses and <a href="http://is.gd/bHJaMv" title="">David Koma</a>'s experimental dresses. Look out for the eco-friendly label <a href="http://www.boastudio.org/BOA/eco_graphic_fashion.html" title="">Boa Studio</a>'s hand-printed designs and glittery <a href="http://www.sylviatoledano.com/" title="">Sylvia Toledano</a> clutches, in between coffee fixes at the store's in-house espresso bar<br>• <em>Serdar-i Ekrem Sokak 55, Karaköy, +90 212 245 3255, </em><a href="http://www.atelier-55.com/Home.html" title=""><em>atelier-55.com</em></a><em>. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fashion-shops-boutiques-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Shopping tripsIstanbul holidaysFashionTravelCity breaksWeekend breaksTop 10sTurkey holidaysVintage fashionWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fashion-shops-boutiques-istanbulPhotograph: PRAtelier 55 in Istanbul, an unmissable spot on shop-dotted Serdar-i Ekrem streetPhotograph: PRAtelier 55 in Istanbul, an unmissable spot on shop-dotted Serdar-i Ekrem streetSeda Yilmaz2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best budget hotels and hostels in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-budget-hotels-hostels-istanbul
Istanbul has hostels and hotels to suit everyone's budget and taste, whether you're after old-fashioned grandeur or modern simplicity. Rough Guide expert <strong>Terry Richardson</strong> picks the best<br /><br /><strong>• </strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title=""><strong>As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>If you're going to stay around the old city's main tourist drag, Akbiyik Caddesi, the Hanedan is the natural budget choice. Despite being owned and run by four friends, it has a friendly family feel about it, with the interior decor mixing the modern with mock-Ottoman flourishes. Rooms have air-conditioning and central heating as standard, with polished wood floors and chiffon-draped four-poster beds adding a touch of interest. The views from the roof terrace to the nearby Aya Sofya and out across the Sea of Marmara and Princes' Islands are stunning. <br>• <em>Akbiyik Caddesi, Adliye Sokak 3, Cankurtaran</em>, <em>+90 212 516 4869, </em><a href="http://www.hanedanhotel.com" title=""><em>handedanhotel.com</em></a><em>, doubles from €40 B&amp;B</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-budget-hotels-hostels-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Istanbul holidaysHostelsBudget travelHotelsTurkey holidaysTravelEurope holidaysShort breaksWeekend breaksTop 10sCity breaksWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-budget-hotels-hostels-istanbulPhotograph: FlickrThe Hanedan, a budget accommodation option in Istanbul with views over the Aya Sofya. Photograph: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25880784@N04/4157639484/">Donnie 3426 on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">some rights reserved</a>Photograph: FlickrThe Hanedan, a budget accommodation option in Istanbul with views over the Aya Sofya. Photograph: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25880784@N04/4157639484/">Donnie 3426 on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">some rights reserved</a>Terry Richardson2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best bars in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-bars-cafes-istanbul
From rooftop bars with views over the Bosphorus to literary hangouts and shisha cafes, <strong>Izzy Finkel </strong>&amp; <strong>Tom Roueché</strong> round up Istanbul's best drinking options<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title=""><strong>• As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>The tall Ottoman buildings that line the streets of Beyoğlu have a tendency to block out the city's fantastic natural beauty. Climbing to Litera, the bar on the fifth floor of the Goethe Institute, however, lays the old city, the Asian side and the Bosphorus at your feet – glass walls and high tables with stools ensure that not an inch is obscured. Such views are all too rare and well worth rooting out. The institute below, meanwhile, offers one of the most varied cultural programmes in Istanbul, from theatre to photography and classical music.<br>• <em>Litera Bar, Goethe-Institut Istanbul, Yeniçarşi Caddesi 32, Beyoğlu, +90 212 249 2009, </em><a href="http://www.goethe.de/ins/tr/ist/trindex.htm?wt_sc=istanbul" title=""><em>goethe.de/istanbul</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.literarestaurant.com/" title=""><em>literarestaurant.com</em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-bars-cafes-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>Food and drinkBars and clubsRestaurantsIstanbul holidaysTurkey holidaysTop 10sWeekend breaksCity breaksTravelWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-bars-cafes-istanbulPhotograph: Inge Harsten/Public Domain'The old city, the Asian side and the Bosphorus at your feet.' Litera Bar in Istanbul. Image: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iharsten/4091314307/">iharsten on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">Some rights reserved</a>.Photograph: Inge Harsten/Public Domain'The old city, the Asian side and the Bosphorus at your feet.' Litera Bar in Istanbul. Image: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iharsten/4091314307/">iharsten on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">Some rights reserved</a>.Izzy Finkel &amp; Thomas Roueché2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best fish restaurants in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fish-restaurants-istanbul-city-guide
Istanbul isn't all about kebabs and meze. This food lover's city is also crazy about freshly caught seafood, served everywhere from shacks to riverside restaurants, say the <strong><a href="http://istanbuleats.com">Istanbul Eats</a></strong> bloggers<br /><br /><strong>• </strong><a href="http:///www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/amsterdam-city-guide" title=""><strong>As featured in our Istanbul city guide</strong></a><p>Call it the Sultanahmet squeeze: how to stay close to the monuments in the old city yet avoid eating in tourist traps? Ahirikapi Balikçisi is one of the dining secrets of Sultanahmet. This little dive with a loyal following of workers is just across from the lovely dervish lodge, Dede Efendi. With a simple menu dominated by fresh fish at reasonable prices and colourful locals sipping raki, this is the sort of place a concierge might tell you to avoid. In warm weather, when they drag tables out onto the pavement, there are few better places in Sultanahmet to eat grilled fish washed down with a cold beer. <br>• <em>Keresteci Hakki Sokak 46, Cankurtaran/Ahırkapı, +90 212 518 4988, mains TL16 (£6). Open 3pm-midnight daily</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fish-restaurants-istanbul-city-guide">Continue reading...</a>RestaurantsIstanbul holidaysFood and drinkTurkey holidaysRestaurantsFood & drinkTop 10sTravelCity breaksWeekend breaksFishShort breaksSeafoodWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-fish-restaurants-istanbul-city-guidePhotograph: AlamyPhotograph: AlamyPhotograph: AlamyPhotograph: AlamyAnsel Mullins2011-09-14T09:30:00Z10 of the best kebab restaurants in Istanbulhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-meat-restaurants-istanbul
Istanbul is a great destination for meat eaters, particularly those who love kebabs. The <strong><a href="http://istanbuleats.com">Istanbul Eats</a></strong> bloggers select the best restaurants to savour Turkey's signature dish<br /><br /><strong><a href="http:///www.guardian.co.uk/travel/series/istanbul-city-guide" title="">• As featured in our Istanbul city guide</a></strong><p>Kadinlar Pazari, a pleasant, pedestrianised square in the Fatih neighbourhood, is the closest Istanbul has to a "little Kurdistan". This superb restaurant specialises in <em>büryan </em>kebab; a kind of Turkish version of the Texas pit barbecue. A side of a small lamb is slowly cooked over coals in a deep hole in the ground, resulting in exceptionally tender meat covered in a thin layer of crackling, crunchy fat. Be sure to also try the <em>perde pilavi</em>, a fragrant peppery pilaf made of rice, chicken, almonds and currants wrapped in a thin pastry shell and baked until the exterior turns golden and flaky.<br><em>• Itfaiye Caddesi 4, Fatih, +90 212 635 8085, </em><a href="http://www.serefburyan.com" title=""><em>serefburyan.com</em></a><em>, mains TL10 (£4). Open 10am-11pm daily</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-meat-restaurants-istanbul">Continue reading...</a>RestaurantsIstanbul holidaysFood and drinkRestaurantsFood & drinkTravelTurkey holidaysTop 10sEurope holidaysShort breaksWeekend breaksCity breaksWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-meat-restaurants-istanbulPhotograph: FlickrSiirt Seref Buryan Kebap Salonu, a kebab restaurant in Istanbul's 'little Kurdistan'. Image: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pancakejess/5612972539/">jslander on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">some rights reserved</a>Photograph: FlickrSiirt Seref Buryan Kebap Salonu, a kebab restaurant in Istanbul's 'little Kurdistan'. Image: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pancakejess/5612972539/">jslander on Flickr</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB">some rights reserved</a>Ansel Mullins2011-09-14T09:30:00Z